he bridge of Neuilly
is reached on December 14. The evening, the Soult marshal, president
of the Council and Mr. de Las Cases father, go up on board and
collect themselves in front of the mortal remains of famous late.
National museum
of the castle of Versailles and Trianons
The next morning, time is icy, but sunny.
The thermometer displays - 8 degrees. Twenty six sailors of
Belle-poule unload the sarcophagus and hoist it on board
a monumental tank of ten meters top and five broad, decorated
of fourteen statues representing the brightest victories of the
Empire. The attachment is composed of sixteen horses covered
with purple velvet with the weapons of the Empire. At the head,
the footmen, with which one made it possible to endorse the delivered
imperial one, await the signal of the departure. The French departments
are represented per as many flags held proudly by feighty seven
warrant officers. The 300 sailors of Belle-poule, out
of dress of pageantry, surround the tank on two lines.
Prince of Joinville, in large uniform of captain, is held proudly
on his horse and gives the signal of the departure whereas with
far, are drawn twenties and one blows from gun.
It is 10 hours 30,
when the tank begins its triumphal progression towards Paris.
An impressive crowd massed on the whole of the course which leads
to the Invalids where it was decided that would rest from now
on the Napoleon Emperor. " Lives the Emperor! ", "
Lives Great Napoleon! " punctuate the funeral march. The
significant service of command is often overflowed by admirers
of which some manage to kiss the crepe of the tank. One passes
soon under the Triumphal arch in which rise had been decided
in 1806 by the Emperor, with the glory of the army and whose
king Louis-Philippe had chaired the inauguration only four years
earlier, July 29, 1836.
Comes then the descent from the Champs-Elysées, decorated
with imperial eagles. Many Parisian kneels in the passing of
the convoy, make the sign of cross, others cry... Around 2 hours
30, the procession reaches finally the Invalids. The coffin is
related and deposited to a grave, in the center of the Saint-Louis
church. The first measurements of the requiem of Mozart resound
then. The king and all his family are there as well as the highest
civil authorities, military and ecclesiastical. With the invitation
of the king, the Grand-Marshal Bertrand deposits on the coffin
the glorious sword of the Emperor and the baron Gourgaud, the
cap already entered the legend. The ceremony is completed around
3 hours. At this precise time, tells the frenc historian André
Castelot, in his superb Napoleon Bonaparte, that the old
Moncey General would have declared:
-- At this time, let us come back to die!
Tomb of the Emperor
Les Invalides (Paris)
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